Jazz and blues festival proposed for summer of 2013 at Muskoka Wharf

GRAVENHURST – Borne from local historic musical roots, a new venture for the Muskoka Wharf could become the next tradition.
Local realtor Mary Gauthier, daughter of the late musician and Dixieland band leader Hugh ‘Mr. Muskoka’ Clairmont who is enshrined with a display at the Muskoka Boat and Heritage Centre, has joined forces with Peter Swanek of the popular Peter’s Players stage house in Gravenhurst to bring the town’s first jazz and blues festival for the summer of 2013. If all goes as hoped, a smaller-scale, one-day concert in its first year will lead to longer and larger festivals down the road.
“He (her father) would love to see what Peter has done for the community (musically) and that’s why I’ve become involved; it’s a legacy for me and my family,” Gauthier explained of why she created the blues and jazz festival idea.
She said in planning for the festival, she approached Swanek for his skills in organizing musical events and performances as well as his contacts within the industry.
“He has assured me he will blow our socks off with the talent he will bring,” she added.
The event is being scheduled for June 29, the same weekend as Canada Day celebrations in town. Planned for only one day at this point at the sports field by the wharf, Swanek said the town can expect to see about 1,000 people show up for the concerts which he said will probably feature only two or three performers in the first year. Although everything will be dependent on who Swanek can bring in for the show and the amount of sponsorship secured, he said the event would likely run from about 4 p.m. until about 10 p.m. and ticket prices will likely range between $30 and $50.
“We hope to have an annual jazz and blues event that will grow bigger and bigger each year; we’re confident that with Peter’s followers and the talent he’ll bring to us, it will be very successful,” Gauthier said. “This will bring more people to our town and they’ll get to know why Gravenhurst is so great.”
Both Gauthier and Swanek said a jazz and blues festival is an idea they have tossed around for several years and Swanek said it provides him a great opportunity to expand beyond the walls of his stage at the south end of Muskoka Road in Gravenhurst.
Gauthier has already created marketing material and media kits for the event and will be seeking out sponsors to assist with covering the costs of talent, set-up, take down and to provide things like refreshment tents or VIP areas. Town council agreed during its meeting Dec. 4 to waive the sports field rental fee (approximately $1,200, plus HST) for the day.
Amy Taylor, the town’s marketing assistant and events facilitator said it’s an exciting proposal and the event is one she too has tried to introduce to Gravenhurst for a few years. She said based on ticket prices of between $30 and $50, with a draw of about 1,000 people who will need to be fed and housed, the town stands to see an economic impact of between $200,000 to $325,000 from the one-day event.
“For a small one-day event there is incredible economic potential,” she said.
Taylor added that should it prove an economic success and become an annual event, there is an opportunity to re-invest some of the proceeds back into the wharf park for improvements. That could include such things as building a proper, covered bandshell to help the jazz and blues festival grow as well as potentially attract more action to the wharf.